In a significant move, French President Emmanuel Macron has declared that France would withdraw its Ambassador from Niger and terminate all military cooperation with the nation following a recent coup that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum.
Macron’s announcement marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between France and Niger.
“France has decided to withdraw its Ambassador. In the next hours, our Ambassador and several diplomats will return to France.” President Macron stated in a televised address on Sunday.
He went on to emphasize that military cooperation between the two countries was “over,” and French troops would be gradually withdrawn from Niger in the coming months.
The military junta seized power in Niger on July 26, forcibly removing President Mohamed Bazoum from office.
This decision by Macron comes after months of mounting animosity and widespread protests against the French presence in the country, particularly in the capital, Niamey.
While this move deals a severe blow to France’s counter-terrorism efforts in the Sahel region, as well as its overall influence in the area, President Macron remained resolute.
He declared, “France will not be held hostage by the putschists,” during interviews with France’s TF1 and France 2 television stations.
Approximately 1,500 French soldiers are currently stationed in Niger as part of France’s military presence in the region.
President Macron also expressed his continued support for the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum, who is currently being held captive by the coup leaders.
He described Bazoum as the ”sole legitimate authority” in the country and labeled him a “hostage” of the coup.
“He was targeted by this coup d’etat because he was carrying out courageous reforms and because there was a largely ethnic settling of scores and a lot of political cowardice,” Macron asserted.
The decision to withdraw the French Ambasador comes after Niger’s military leaders demanded Sylvain Itte, the French Ambassador, to leave the country immediately following their seizure of power on July 26.
However, a 48-hour ultimatum issued in August for his departure passed without compliance from the French government, which refused to recognize the legitimacy of the military regime.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, hours before Macron’s announcement, Niger’s coup leaders banned “French aircraft” from flying over the country, further exacerbating the diplomatic strain between France and Niger.
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